Still carrying an old PADI certification card? Or can’t find it at all? Whether you need a replacement or just want a fresh design, make a splash in 2026 with a new, limited-edition dive certification card design.
Here are the 2026 limited-edition PADI certification card designs and the stories behind each card.
PADI 60th Anniversary Cards
2026 marks six decades of seeking adventure and saving the ocean with PADI. To celebrate this significant milestone, PADI has released a limited-edition certification card. Each one features the commemorative 60th anniversary logo, set against backgrounds inspired by PADI certification cards through the years.
Certification cards issued by PADI Five Star Dive Centers and Resorts feature an exclusive gold background, while all others are presented in blue.
Available during 2026 only, this is a chance to own a piece of PADI history.
Flippin’ Between Two Worlds by Kellon Spencer
Face-to-face encounters with wild dolphins aren’t an everyday occurrence, which is what makes this moment of mutual curiosity captured on this certification card so special.
Be one of the few PADI divers to showcase your diver status with this limited-edition certification card. There are only 1000 physical cards available. This design is also available as an eCard.
Meet the Photographer – Kellon Spencer
Kellon Spencer is a conservation and nature-based filmmaker and photographer, spending most of his time producing stories for nonprofits, NGOs and nature-focused industries. When he’s not behind the camera, you’ll find him guiding encounters with marine megafauna in the ocean.
Kellon drew inspiration from a childhood fascination with figures like Steve Irwin, David Attenborough and Mark DeGruy. After dabbling in several forms of photography and filmmaking, it was completing his dive certification that proved to be the true catalyst. Spencer explains, “Once I got my dive certification, the idea of shooting underwater as a career really started to formulate, and I started chasing it seriously. During my college days, I worked as a dive guide and freediving instructor.”
After deciding to commit to full-time freelancing, Spencer hasn’t looked back, “Whenever I am in the field, I feel a real sense of fulfillment. It always takes me back to being that 15-year-old kid dreaming about this life.”
Reflecting on this milestone, Spencer says, “It feels pretty full circle knowing that an image I took is going to be on a dive card.”
The Story Behind Flippin’ Between Two Worlds
Spencer’s first visit to the island of Dominica was driven by its renowned sperm whale encounters. However, after word spread of a particularly friendly, solitary dolphin that had begun stealing the spotlight, Spencer wanted to experience it for himself. Known as Becky by local operators, Spencer entered the water with little idea just how memorable his encounter would become.
Spencer recalls, “She is always solitary and loves interacting with people, often inviting us into the water and staying with us as long as we are willing to engage.” About the day the image was captured, he tells us, “I noticed Becky was interested in the sound my carbon fins made as they flexed. I took one off, held it next to my camera and wiggled it to amplify the sound. She paused at the surface, inspecting it, which gave me the opportunity to capture this over-under shot of her with the island in the background.”
One of the most memorable elements for Kellon was that the curiosity was mutual. He explains, “I love this photo because it captures a moment where the animal clearly wanted to be there. I am not interested in forcing interactions just to get a shot. When the interaction is genuine, the photo follows.”
Gentle Giants of the Blue Card by Brooke Pyke
Carry an extraordinary ocean encounter in your wallet with this limited-edition certification card. Captured on Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef, the card showcases a rare moment as two whale sharks feed alongside one another. This design is available as an eCard or a waterproof card made from recycled materials, but only 1,000 physical cards are available — hurry and order yours now!
This card is a must-have for lovers of sharks or marine megafauna.
Meet the Photographer – Brooke Pyke
Brooke Pyke is an award-winning wildlife photographer based in Exmouth, Western Australia, on the Ningaloo Coast.
Brooke’s introduction to photography began in high school, mastering black and white film photography with an old camera. Combining this early passion with a love of the ocean, Brooke became a PADI Scuba Instructor, but quickly realized her true path was blending photography with scuba diving. As Brooke explains, underwater photography “quickly became an obsession, and I began teaching myself the craft with the same curiosity that had drawn me to the darkroom years before.”
It wasn’t long until Brooke’s dedication paid off. During work with the Marine Megafauna Foundation, she captured an image of “a manta ray feeding through a soup of plastic pollution that quickly made international news and went on to win an award in conservation photography.” Recognizing the power of a single image, Brooke relocated to Exmouth to further her photography career.
In 2022, Brooke received international recognition at the Ocean Photographer of the Year awards. But as Brooke explains, “what fills me with the most pride and fulfilment is the effect my work has on other people. I regularly receive messages from strangers telling me that my photography inspired them to try diving or snorkeling for the first time, or that they are now pursuing a career in marine science or ocean photography. Those messages mean more to me than any award.”
Reflecting on what matters most, Brooke adds: “Knowing that my imagery has moved someone, sparked a curiosity, or deepened a connection to the ocean — that is almost wholly why I do what I do.”
The Story Behind the Gentle Giants of the Blue Card
Seeing a whale shark on Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia is nothing unusual. In fact, it’s one of the best places in the world to see one. But while solitary sightings are common, seeing multiple whale sharks in the same space is rare, and capturing two in a single shot is even more extraordinary.
As Brooke explains, “Whale sharks are known to be quite independent marine giants, seeing them together is not very common as they mostly roam the oceans solitarily.”
Brooke recalls the moment vividly: “This particular day we had a bloom of tropical krill off the coast of the Ningaloo. This drew many whale sharks into the same small area and gave us a unique opportunity to witness multiple whale sharks feeding together.”
Hatchling’s First Swim Card by Ben Hicks
Make a magical moment yours with this card. A baby loggerhead sea turtle takes its first swimming strokes in the shallow waters off Florida, as this certification card captures the hatchling’s journey from its sand-covered nest to the open ocean. This design is also available as an eCard or as a limited edition, waterproof card made from recycled materials, but only 1,000 physical copies are available.
It’s a powerful way to honor one of nature’s toughest journeys, making it an ideal choice for divers looking to recognize their own journey or show support for nature’s underdogs.
Meet the Photographer – Ben Hicks
Based in South Florida, Ben Hicks is a two-time Emmy Award-winning photographer who strives to capture the majestic beauty of the natural world.
Through his bold, adventurous style and eye-catching imagery, Ben aims to inspire a deeper appreciation for nature and raise environmental awareness. His work has taken him across the Americas and to exotic locations around the world, where the self-proclaimed “adventure-boy” chases complex and often dangerous moments, from big waves to precarious animal encounters, to capture the magic of Mother Nature.
Ben’s commitment to powerful imagery has seen his work put on display in skyscrapers in New York City and featured on National Geographic. He also partners with eco-conscious brands to promote ocean-minded campaigns.
Ben says it’s ultimately his environmental mission that drives his photography. He explains, “Nature was here first, it’s our responsibility to take care of it; once it’s gone, we are too.” He particularly focuses on sea turtle conservation, highlighting their role as indicators of ocean and coastal ecosystem health.
Ben adds, “Being able to reach students and young aspiring nature lovers around the world through my photography, and teach them how we can do better protecting our oceans, is what I’m most proud of in my career.”
The Story Behind Hatchling’s First Swim Card
Baby turtles face incredible obstacles from the moment they hatch. In Hatchling’s First Swim, Ben captures a fleeting and vulnerable moment as a baby loggerhead, likely only minutes into its life, takes its first swim in the shallow waters after emerging from its sandy nest.
Taken on Singer Island in 2025, the photograph reflects Ben’s broader mission to use imagery as a tool for conservation, environmental activism and sustainability — particularly through powerful turtle storytelling. As Ben explains, “I love being able to share baby sea turtle imagery as I can reach people’s hearts and remind them what we have to protect out there by being ocean-minded!”
PADI AWARE Sea Turtle Legend Card by Stan Moniz
Support ocean conservation and marine animal protection while showcasing your commitment to our blue planet with this PADI AWARE certification card designed by photographer Stan Moniz. The physical, waterproof card is made from recycled materials, and USD $10 from every PADI AWARE Sea Turtle Legend Card purchase will be donated to the PADI AWARE Foundation™. It’s a win-win for you and the ocean!
Meet the Photographer – Stan Moniz
Stan Moniz captures the beauty and power of the oceans through photography and film. He is an enthusiastic surfer and passionate scuba diver from the Hawaiian islands, now living in Orange County, California.
Born to make waves, Moniz’ inspiration to pick up a camera came from years of experience freediving and surfing the North Shore on Oahu, Hawaii. Sharing stories and empowering people to explore the world through his lens, he raises awareness about the beauty and fragility of the ocean and inspires others to protect it. He is an adventure seeker and stargazer who explores and captures the beauty of the night sky through astrophotography.
Moniz is a passionate teacher at heart, helping others discover their creative expression through photography and film.
The Story Behind the PADI AWARE Sea Turtle Legend Card
Photographer Stan Moniz tells us, “Growing up, my family and friends would tell me stories about a special place in Maui where I could observe sea turtle cleaning stations. Maui is one of the best locations on the planet to see dozens of these beautiful creatures at any given time.
Many moons later, I finally got to see the place that my family told me about with my own two eyes, an experience that had always been on my bucket list.
What makes this photo so unique to me is that it was taken on a fun dive minutes after achieving my PADI Advanced Open Water Diver certification. Words couldn’t express how impressed and in awe I was about the experience and how easy it was to relax underwater and take in the beauty of nature.”
This photo was taken off the west coast of Maui just months before the devastating August 8, 2023 Lahaina, Maui wildfire.
Time for a New Certification Card?
Be ready for your next diving adventure. If you’ve lost your PADI certification card or if you only received an eCard with your new certification but want a recycled plastic card as well, be sure to order your new PADI Diver card soon.
Join PADI Club & SAVE!
Want to save some money on your new certification card? Join PADI Club and receive one free Club-exclusive eCard per year (featuring one of four members-only designs) and save 25% off a PADI certification card once a year. Plus, you’ll get additional perks, including a Scuba Diving magazine subscription, 20% off eLearning and free online access to DAN’s Prepared Diver Course and the PADI ReActivate online refresher program.
